Your Trip to the Store Shouldn’t be a Day at the Breach!

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Jim Bedinger and Vivian Abraham attended the FOP Great Lakes Coalition meeting held in Indianapolis, IN, on October 3- 4, 2024.

Jim Bedinger and Vivian Abraham attended the FOP Great Lakes Coalition meeting held in Indianapolis, IN, on October 3- 4, 2024. ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago
Today is National Thank a Police Officer Day! Wed like to take a moment to express our gratitude to the brave men and women who protect and serve. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to keeping us safe. #NationalThankAPoliceOfficerDay

Today is National Thank a Police Officer Day! We'd like to take a moment to express our gratitude to the brave men and women who protect and serve. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to keeping us s#nationalthankapoliceofficerdayerDay ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago
Thank you for 30 years of service!! And counting …
Stay safe!

Thank you for 30 years of service!! And counting …
Stay safe!30 years and counting!

Denise Sledge has been a valuable part of the OCSO Communications team for three decades! Thank you for your dedicated service and for answering the call for so many years! We appreciate you!🌟👏
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1 month ago
Great work Officer Harris and K-9 Rocky! Thank you! Stay safe.

Great work Officer Harris and K-9 Rocky! Thank you! Stay safe.Great work Officer Harris & K9 Rocky and congratulations on being the District 5 Officer of the Month!!!
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Congratulations to Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky of District 5, C Squad, who are being recognized as this month’s Officer of the Month.

Officer Harris recently completed a four-week K9 Handler course with his new partner, K9 Rocky. While attending K9 Handler school, Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky conducted rigorous training to master working as a K9 Team. The curriculum is designed to equip handlers with the expertise needed for effective law enforcement. The curriculum focuses on narcotics detection, tracking, and evidence locating. Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky have quickly become a unified team. Their combined efforts have led to the successful locating and apprehending of three suspects wanted in connection with felony incidents. Officer J. Harris and K9 Rocky have recovered not only two discarded firearms from fleeing suspects but also other discarded evidence pertinent to the crimes currently being investigated. Their work, including assisting with K9 callouts and routinely responding to 9-1-1 calls, has significantly contributed to maintaining public safety.

Thanks to Officer Harris and K9 Rocky for your hard work and dedication to protecting the Durham community. Excellent work!
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1 month ago
Great picture! Thank you, Deputy King and K9 Vito! Stay safe.

Great picture! Thank you, Deputy King and K9 Vito! Stay safe.Don’t mind us as we carry around "ruffly" 90 lbs. of K9 love.
Happy National Dog Day from Deputy King and K9 Vito!
#nationaldaydog🐾

📷 Nevada County Sheriff's Office
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1 month ago
We will Never Forget.

We will Never Forget.The Chicago Police Department offers our condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Police Officer Austin Machitar of the San Diego Police Department who sadly lost his life in the line of duty on August 26, 2024. Officer Machitar's partner was also injured in the crash and is currently listed in critical condition. Our thoughts are with the officers and their families. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Thank you, K-9 Haywire! Enjoy your well-deserved retirement with your handler, and stay safe!Image attachment

Thank you, K-9 Haywire! Enjoy your well-deserved retirement with your handler, and stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Great job! Thank you! Stay safe.

Great job! Thank you! Stay safe.Earlier today, when a kitten in Staten Island fell through the grates of a storm drain, concerned residents reached out to your NYPD cops. NYPD Special Operations ESU officers responded, and with help from NYC Department of Environmental Protection, they successfully brought the cat back to safety so it could dry up in today’s warm sun. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Welcome, K9 Raider and K9 Titan! Stay safe!

Welcome, K9 Raider and K9 Titan! Stay safe!Join us in welcoming K9 Raider and K9 Titan! 🐕

“The Gwinnett County Police Department is proud to introduce two new K9's into service. After completing their training in North Carolina, Raider and Titan will both begin work in the county. Titan will work with Cpl. Bartkowiak and Raider will work with Officer Copley. Both dogs are 2-year-old Belgian Malinois.”
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1 month ago
Congratulations! Thank you! Stay safe.Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Congratulations! Thank you! Stay safe. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Hello, K9 Diesel and Officer Ryan Coll! Thank you! Stay safe.

Hello, K9 Diesel and Officer Ryan Coll! Thank you! Stay safe.Meet K9 Diesel and Officer Ryan Coll of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department . Diesel is a half Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd and will be 4 on his next birthday. When he’s not working, Diesel LOVES spending time relaxing with his human siblings and mama at home. Photo by Erik Larson. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Congratulations and thank you! Stay safe!

Congratulations and thank you! Stay safe!Congratulations to Officer Dalton Koch!

We are proud to announce that Officer Dalton Koch has been selected as the O'Fallon Police Department's Officer of the Month for July. This recognition is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and commitment to serving our community. Please join us in congratulating Officer Koch on this well-deserved honor! 👏👮‍♂️
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1 month ago
Congratulations and thank you! Stay safe.Image attachment

Congratulations and thank you! Stay safe. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Welcome!! Thank you! Stay safe.

Welcome!! Thank you! Stay safe.We welcomed a new recruit class at the Lexington Police Department Training Academy this week! For the next 30+ weeks, the recruits will cover topics that will help them Set the Standard.

Please join us in welcoming Recruit Class 08-2024 and thank them for choosing to serve our community!
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1 month ago
Great job, K9 Milo!!!! Thank you!

Great job, K9 Milo!!!! Thank you!Good Boy K-9 Milo 💙👏
#thankyouforyourservice

"K9 Milo of the Colorado Springs Police K-9 Unit was off duty this past Friday but that didn't stop him, or his Handler, from assisting with the capture of a fugitive.

Thank you Milo for doing such a great job which meant that everyone went home safe!"

📷 Running 4 Heroes- K9s
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#heroes #policedog #k9 #k9officer #workingdog #malinois
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1 month ago
Thank you, Officer Horvath, for your many years of service!!!!
Stay safe!

Thank you, Officer Horvath, for your many years of service!!!!
Stay safe!Congratulations to Officer Jason Horvath on celebrating 20 years of dedicated service with the Wentzville Police Department!

With 26 years in law enforcement, Officer Horvath has been an integral part of our team. From his work as a K9 Officer, Detective and service in the Cyber Crime Unit and now serving as a School Resource Officer for over 11 years, his commitment to our community is unmatched. As the lead advisor for the WPD Explorer Program, he's made a significant impact on the youth in our community. He's also been recognized multiple times, earning Employee of the Quarter twice and receiving the Optimist Club Award for his outstanding contributions to youth in the community.

Thank you, Officer Horvath, for your dedication and service! We are proud to have you on our team.
#WentzvillePD
#WPDServiceAwards
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1 month ago
#HEROES!!!!
Thank you! 💙💙💙💙

#heroes!!!!
Thank you! 💙💙💙💙🐶𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬🐶

Detectives from the Special Victims Section recently discovered six abandoned puppies on the side of the road. Covered in dirt and riddled with fleas, the puppies were quickly rescued!
Thanks to the swift action of our detectives and colleagues in the Criminal Investigations Division, the puppies have found loving homes. We’re proud of our team’s dedication and compassion!
... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Thank you! Stay safe!

Thank you! Stay safe!👏👏👏👏
Congratulations to Officer Michael Grund on achieving his one-stripe milestone, signifying 5 years of law enforcement service.

Officer Grund joined the Wausau Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the criminal justice academy at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Aside from his time with patrol, Officer Grund served as one of our Field Training Officers and is now a member of our Community Resource Unit, tasked with addressing neighborhood issues in our city. Thank you Officer Grund for choosing to serve our community and being a big part of our success as an organization!

*Background of Service Stripes: For every 5 years of law enforcement service, we present our staff with a gold service stripe to be worn on their long-sleeve uniform. Service stripes are small, but each stripe is significant and symbolizes a tremendous amount of positive impacts each officer has made in our community
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1 month ago
Congratulations! Thank you! Stay safe!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Congratulations! Thank you! Stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Congratulations! Thank you! Stay safe!

Congratulations! Thank you! Stay safe!CONGRATULATIONS to Officer Nicholet Gonzalez and Officer Madeleine King who graduated from Sauk Valley Police Academy BLE-5. ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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Your Trip to the Store Shouldn’t be a Day at the B{r}each!

Are you fed up with data breaches yet?  Do you cringe every time you hear another retailer admit that their system has been hacked?  Are you tired of the disruption that you endure each time your debit or credit card is cancelled or deactivated because of one of these breaches?

These breaches; those of the Target, Home Depot, Michael’s, and Jewel (Supervalue) sort, have become so commonplace that is likely impossible you have not been directly impacted by at least one of them.  While you are protected from the responsibility of paying for any fraudulent charges that may show up on your account as a result of breaches such as these, do not fool yourself into thinking that you are immune from either the cost of these breaches or the potential long term consequences of them.

You may not realize that even in these well-publicized instances, where it is indisputable and clear that the breach occurred at the respective retailer level, none of these businesses are responsible for covering any of the cost associated with these crimes.  Let me repeat, when Target publically admits that their system was hacked and that some of your personal information was potentially subject to that intrusion, Target is not responsible for even one cent of the cost of that crime.

The issuer of your credit or debit card, which is almost always your credit union or your bank, is responsible for bearing the cost of that breach.   That’s right.  The issuer didn’t have anything more to do with that breach then the individual consumers, but the issuer bears the responsibility for the cost of it and the costs are substantial.

Issuers are solely responsible for any fraudulent charges that occur, the cost to replace the cards that were affected by the breach, and the cost of the employees it needs to manage these occurrences and process all of the related information and paperwork.  Issuers are responsible for the costs of their fraud detection software that helps them to minimize the damage caused by these breaches and they are responsible for their cyber security and fraud insurance related costs.

As the frequency and extent of these breaches has increased, all of these costs have also increased and at a very rapid pace.  It is currently the practice of most issuers to take all possible steps to protect their clients from harm.  Credit unions and banks will not only absorb any fraudulent charges on your bill, they will often issue you a new card with a new number the moment there is any indication that your information was subject to a breach, even before charges have accrued.

Were these breaches to continue at the pace they are currently occurring, however, it is fair to ask just how long consumers will be fully protected from the harm these events cause.  In fact, you could effectively argue that every consumer is already impacted by the inconvenience of having to switch billing information and having to constantly notify businesses that they have a new card number.

It is unrealistic to think that any industry or business can 100 % protect itself from a data breach at all times simply because the bad guys will always have an advantage.  Hackers spend their time finding the next loophole or weakness and then exploiting it regardless of the system or the Target (pun intended).  The rest of us have jobs and families and hobbies.  While we play by the rules, hackers only have an interest in getting around the rules and penetrating safeguards, but why does it keep happening at the retail level?

The answer is simple, data breaches and system hacks are crimes of opportunity.  Crimes of opportunity are committed when the opportunity presents itself; and for the last year, retailers and the data systems they maintain have been the weakest link in the chain.  It really does not take long to identify the flaw in the law nor does it take long to assume that these breaches are going to continue to happen until that law changes.

If any business in any industry is insulated from the consequences of their action or inaction, there is absolutely no incentive for that business to take new actions or to stop being inactive.  As long as the retailers are shielded from the costs of the breaches that take place at their businesses, the breaches will continue and the costs of these breaches will continue to escalate.  In any aspect of life, there must be a consequence for the actions that are taken.  An action or a series of actions devoid of consequence lead to chaos and a lack of balance and order.

So, what can you do about it?  Every cause starts with education.  For your own sake, make it a point to learn more about how payments are processed, how your information is stored, and why these things should be important to you and your family.

When a cashier asks for proof of your identity, take the time to thank them for helping to protect you instead of chastising them for adding 30 seconds to your checkout process.

Be selective when and where you use your debit and credit cards.  Be alert when you use your card, especially when you purchase something on line.  You should be familiar with the sites that you visit and never allow any site to store your information or “remember” your form of payment for the next time.

Pay attention to the activity on your account and check your balance and statement frequently.

You may even consider contacting your congressman or senator and asking him or her why the current laws protect retailers from having to pay for breaches that occur within their own business.

None of these actions taken individually or even collectively will prevent all fraud from occurring.  You can bet that despite your best efforts, data breaches will continue to occur.  So, you may ask, why should you do any of these things and why should you care as long as you are not responsible for paying for a fraudulent transaction.

While your diligence may not fully stop these breaches, your diligence and that of others will eventually slow it down and may even encourage retailers to increase their own diligence in installing safe practices and better data protection systems.  Once retailers are fully on board, the entire payment system will be better balanced and we might even be able to better contain costs.  This is where the importance of this education and these actions directly impact you.

No matter how efficiently a business operates and no matter how good a business might be as an advocate and even a shield for the consumer, costs have to be accounted for.  Sometimes costs can be absorbed, but when costs such as those related to the perpetuation and proliferation of fraud spiral upward and outstrip any ability to make them back in the form of revenue, those costs can and do get passed back to the innocent consumer.

If you plan on continuing to use a debit card or a credit card for the foreseeable future, make it personal and make it a point to get educated on this subject.  Then, get active in doing something about it!

Scott Arney
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union

Don’t forget, members of the Credit Union enjoy free and confidential Credit Counseling and Financial Planning through our Financial Planning and Education Center. We are here to assist you every step of the way.

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